One of the major places the impact is being felt is at condos, where homeowner’s association fees are increasing to make up for not only the increase in insurance rates but shortfalls in reimbursements from insurance companies from Hurricane Ian. Many condo associations on hard-hit Fort Myers Beach are still entangled in litigation with their […]
Condo buyouts add another layer to housing crisis (FL)
State Rep. Vicki Lopez, the Republican lawmaker who led condo reforms to try to prevent another Surfside tragedy, is worried about a recent court decision over a building buyout in Miami. Read the article…………………………….
Thousands of SWFL condos for sale as owners face rising assessments and insurance costs (FL)
Many Southwest Florida condo owners are in trouble financially as they face thousands of dollars in special assessments. There is a rush of people putting their condos up for sale, and buyers are shying away. Florida is now facing a condo crisis as more condos are on the market than there have been in years. […]
Clearwater’s public parking in condo bleeds money with limited customers (FL)
Twenty years ago, Clearwater officials agreed to buy 100 parking spaces in a Cleveland Street condo, anticipating a downtown revival that would bring throngs of visitors. But a blossoming of downtown restaurants and retail never happened. The parking investment has turned into a money pit for taxpayers as few patrons use the city-owned spaces. Read […]
How South Florida’s condos, HOAs should prepare for upcoming hurricane season
Hurricane season is approaching quickly and forecasters are predicting an intense one ahead. And while we South Floridians are no strangers to these storms, it’s crucial to recognize the potent cocktail of factors like La Nina that amplify their destructive potential. The threat is compounded for properties along the coastline, where the convergence of strong […]
Estoppel Charges Adjusted for Inflation (FL)
Q: I recently requested an estoppel certificate from our homeowners’ association to confirm the dues and fees associated with my property in connection with my selling the home. When I received the bill, the amount charged was higher than the cap mentioned in the Florida Homeowners’ Association Act. Can they legally charge more than what […]
Condo fees expected to keep rising in wake of Surfside-related legislation, expert says (FL)
If you’re a condo owner or looking to buy one anytime soon, you may have to rethink your budget. That’s according to Greg Main-Baillie—the executive managing director for construction and project management at Colliers Real Estate Services. When it comes to Florida’s condo market, he told ABC Action News that the next three years will […]
They don’t look broken, but did Hurricane Ian damage condo’s windows enough to file claim? (FL)
Question: Our condominium board signed a contract with some lawyers who promised to sue our insurance company after Hurricane Ian. The claim that was submitted (prepared by the attorneys’ engineer and signed by our treasurer) alleges, among other lies, that thousands of windows were damaged, when actually none was damaged. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Judge Rules in Favor of Tamarac’s Shaky Shaker Village Clubhouse Deal (FL)
A hurdle blocking Tamarac’s controversial plan to buy the dilapidated Shaker Village Clubhouse was recently cleared when a Broward Circuit Court judge ruled in the condominium association’s favor in a lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in September 2023 by Shaker Village resident Tonya Nesbitt, had challenged the Shaker Village Condominium Association’s authority to make the clubhouse […]
Q&A: Is an owner vote needed before we can borrow money and special assess? (FL)
Q: Our condominium association is considering entering into a loan to fund repairs to our condominium property from Hurricane Ian. We are intending on paying off the loan with a special assessment against all the owners in the condominium. There are some owners who have said that we cannot do this without a unit owner […]
Engineers hired by Champlain Towers South go public with where they think first failure occurred (FL)
For the first time, engineers who investigated the collapse of Champlain Towers South are going public with the evidence they say points to where the first failure in the structure occurred just minutes before the building came down, killing 98 people. Engineers form the Chicago-based national engineering firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates were hired by […]
Florida bill aimed at giving some rights back to homeowners with HOAs on Gov. DeSantis’ desk
Living in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association comes with some perks but also some rules, and a new bill on Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk aims to give back some of the rights homeowners give up in those communities. Read the article…………………………….
Firefighters battle blaze at Orlando condo complex (FL)
Firefighters put out a fire Thursday morning at a condominium complex in Orlando. The fire happened at about 11 a.m. at East Michigan Street and Conway Road. Officials said the fire has been extinguished. Read the article…………………………….
Real estate Q&A: How can we get rid of our rowdy renters? (FL)
Q: Lately, some of the renters in our townhome community have been disruptive. There have been noise disturbances, domestic violence, unleashed pets, and even open drug use. When some homeowners raised their concerns, the association said their ability to address the problem was limited, and changing rental bylaws was almost impossible. What can we do […]
Boca West, Akoya Sued After Swimming Pool Incident In Boca Raton Country Club (FL)
Boca West Country Club and its Akoya community are part of a major lawsuit just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court by a woman who claims she was critically injured at a Boca West swimming pool. Barbara Glazer alleges that work on the pool deck was so shoddy, her leg pushed through a paver […]
Developer files lawsuit against Pine Ridge Association (FL)
The development group that sought to build 85 single-family residential homes on the vacant Pine Ridge golf course filed a lawsuit last week accusing that community’s property owners association and its former president with slander. The lawsuit, filed in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court, alleges that then-president Wayne Tuch made false statements regarding the sale […]
Condo managers in Perdido Key battle critter invasion amid new lighting ordinance debate (FL)
Rats and snakes have become unwelcome guests at two Perdido Key condominiums. The associate managers for those properties attended Monday’s Board of Escambia County Commissioners meeting, one of them speaking out publicly against a proposed wildlife-lighting ordinance. The two women worry if it passes, it’ll worsen a problem with nuisance critters living on the premises. […]
Florida HOA Sued Over Antisemitic Actions Against Jewish Rabbi and Boca Raton Chabad
(Press release) Today attorneys from First Liberty Institute and Jones Day filed a federal lawsuit against Loggers’ Run Association, a homeowners’ association, and its management company in Boca Raton, FL calling for it to end all illegal, discriminatory, and antisemitic actions against Rabbi Naftaly Hertzel and his wife Henya. Since 2015 the Hertzels and the […]
Age-old fencing for residents’ dogs runs afoul of new homeowners association president
Question: Our homeowner’s association states in its declaration that “all fences, other than those installed by the Developer, are prohibited.” Ten years ago, our then president allowed owners to install dog pens — pens made of chain link fence material. Last month, our current president became enraged when her neighbor constructed a dog pen within […]
Real Estate Counselor: Horrific fall due to rotted balcony leads to condo litigation (FL)
A March ruling by Florida’s First District Court of Appeal and the 2016 incident behind the lawsuit, which stemmed from a rotted condominium balcony railing that led to a horrible three-story fall, was the subject of a recent report by WUFT News in North Central Florida. The station’s articleand the appellate opinion illustrate the potentially […]
HOA Q&A: How can we collect special assessments from people who own lots and have not paid? (FL)
Q: My homeowner’s association special assessed the community about 6 months ago. I just found out that there are at least 15 lots that have not paid their special assessment. The Board is questioning how to collect these funds and if the Association is required to follow the same process that it does for collection […]
Miami condo demolition lawsuit sparks statewide concern among property stakeholders (FL)
An appellate court case in South Florida has garnered attention from a wide spectrum of stakeholders in the real estate industry. The lawsuit revolves around a case concerning Biscayne 21, an aging condominium building situated on prime oceanfront real estate. Read the article…………………………….
Condo lawsuit: Neighbors claim association took parking spaces to make a profit (FL)
A group of neighbors at Buckley Towers condominiums in northeast Miami-Dade claimed in court that some members of their association’s board of directors took advantage of their position to profit off the community. Among the complaints: uncollected trash piling up in bins and inside the building’s trash chutes. Read the article…………………………….
‘Going to have to pay up’: Condo consultant discusses options for Florida condo owners facing new safety law (FL)
The clock is ticking for Florida condominium owners who now have to come up with reserve funds to pay for potential repairs. A new safety law was passed after the Surfside collapse in 2021. Lawmakers hope the new law will help prevent future tragedies. Video news report……………………..
Residents recall board over fees at Orlando condo complex (FL)
Residents at Regency Gardens Condominiums in Orange County were in fear of losing their homes after learning they need to fill a gap of more than $17 million in the condominium association’s reserves by the year’s end. Video news report……………………..
Mystic Woods condo residents worry as damage concerns mount days after storms (FL)
Days after strong storms and tornados struck the region residents continue trying to dig out from under downed trees and powerlines, and many are finding recovery a confusing, frustrating process. The Mystic Woods condos off Pensacola Street used to have a forested canopy. Not anymore. Many of the units have trees through the roofs. Read […]
A Middleburg man built a little library to share free books with his neighbors. Then he was sued by his HOA (FL)
A Middleburg man had the novel idea to provide free books to his neighbors, but the idea opened up a new chapter in his life: a legal battle with his homeowners association. Now he’s facing lawsuits and almost $2,500 in fines. The little library was situated on his front lawn along the sidewalk where his […]
Video shows bobcat take casual stroll around Naples, Florida pool as man lounges nearby
A Naples man was in for quite a surprise recently as he lounged poolside at a local condo complex. A bobcat slowly meandered around the pool area and within feet of Kevin Mario, who was seated in a lounge chair and eventually wandered off. Read the article…………………………….
Fight over condo-hotel leads to Florida bill. Here’s what it could mean for owners.
A courtroom fight over a luxury Miami Beach condo and hotel complex spilled into Florida’s Capitol this year, where lawmakers gave hoteliers and developers the upper hand in disputes with residents over common areas in so-called hotel-condos — and potentially undercut a key reform put in place after the collapse of the Champlain Towers in […]
Condo holdouts leave developer in limbo, case could have ripple affect statewide (FL)
A recent decision by an appeals court in Miami overturning a condominium termination has sent ripples through the condo development community, including lenders, buyers and investors. Rep. Vicki Lopez, R-Coral Gables, told Florida’s Voice that 10 condo owners in Edgewater, Miami refused an offer to sell their units to a development company that had been […]
Mystic Woods Condos residents, workers calling for help amid tornado damage in Tallahassee (FL)
Four days after tornadoes caused widespread damage in Leon County, crews have been working around the clock to get folks back on their feet. Meanwhile, quite a bit of damage could be seen at one West Tallahassee condo complex. Since Friday’s storms, many living at the Mystic Woods Condos near West Pensacola Street have had […]
Sarasota business owner sent to prison for real estate fraud (FL)
Even with his federal trial being over in Virginia, charges remain pending against Santiago at home in Sarasota. In 2022, Santiago was president of the Beneva Ridge Condominiums homeowners association when its new treasurer — Esther Quiles, wife of Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith — became “wary that HOA funds are being misappropriated by the […]
Condo lawsuit: Neighbors claim association took their parking spaces to make a profit (FL)
A group of neighbors at Buckley Towers condominiums in Northeast Miami-Dade claimed in court that some members of their association’s board of directors took advantage of their position to profit off the community……He and other residents filed a lawsuit in November, claiming the association’s board of directors took their assigned parking spots and tried to […]
Miami turns into Airbnb’s playground! Over 50% of luxury new condos are being built specifically for short-term party rentals (FL)
Over half of all new condos being built in Miami are specifically for short-term rentals as residents struggle to find affordable long-term housing, a new report found. As droves of new residents arrive in the Sunshine State, many are struggling to find affordable housing as the state’s condo market is in the doldrums. Real-estate firm […]
Aging condo structures seen as threat to Key Biscayne’s future (FL)
The safety of aging condominium buildings poses a l threat to the future of Key Biscayne, Village Manager Steve Williamson told council members Thursday at a strategy meeting for the upcoming budget. “As you look at the condominiums, they’re all coming up on their 30, 40, 50-year certifications and the impact that has on the […]
Fire displaces 5 units at Casselberry condo complex (FL)
Five units at a condo complex in Casselberry were damaged in a fire early Sunday and displaced, according to the Seminole County Fire Department. Units responded around 3:15 a.m. to Summit Village Condominiums, where the attic and inside walls of a unit were on fire, the department said in a statement Read the article…………………………….
Condo signed contract, imposing monthly internet fee without a vote. Is that legal? (FL)
Question: Every unit in our condominium has always used their own cable and internet providers. Now, our board is forcing us into a mandatory monthly fee internet charge—pushed through with no member vote. Is this legal? How can the board increase our year-over-year expenses without the owners having a say? Read the Q&A………………………………..
HOA Q&A: Can we give notice about a Board meeting electronically? (FL)
Q: What are the requirements regarding electronic Board meeting notices as governed by “Florida Administrative Codes, section 61B-75.002 Electronic Transmission of Notices”? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Regency Gardens Homeowners look to oust condo board that demanded $22k for special assessment fee (FL)
Residents in one Orlando condominium complex are fighting back after their condo association board asked each homeowner to pay more than $11,000 for a special assessment fee, due in just 3 months. Channel 9 first reported that owners at the Regency Gardens Condominiums got notices saying their board planned to pass a special assessment on […]
Florida tightens condo insurance claim deadlines to ease disputes
The law addresses a gap in the state’s condominium insurance requirements, previously marked by vague guidelines for when claims for loss assessment coverage had to be filed. Such coverage covers condominium owners’ financial responsibilities for damages to shared property areas. The legislation is a section of the broader Consumer Protection bill, HB 939, which encompasses […]
Residents in uproar about major tree-removal project (FL)
Social media in Sun City Center was ablaze recently when residents learned Tampa Electric Co. had begun clearing away all of the trees and shrubs in its easement along Rickenbacker Drive. The Community Association was being inundated with phone calls, so Debbie Caneen, administrator of the Sun City Center Neighbors Facebook page and a Sun […]
‘Three times the amount’: Stuart condo board members concerned about costly fees after Surfside collapse (FL)
Condominium owners in Florida may have to dig a little deeper to pay their homeowners association fees and special assessments now that a new state law designed to make condos more resilient after the surfside condominium collapse in 2021 is expected to kick in before the end of the year. Michael O’Connor, a condo board […]
Boca Raton HOA Sued Over Electric Scooter Accident (FL)
A Boca Raton Homeowners Association is being sued by a man who claims the HOA’s poorly maintained parking lot led him to crash his electric scooter. Robert Clarfield claims that the Villas of Boca Barwood is responsible for his accident. Read the article…………………………….
Family jumps from second-story in St. Peters condo fire (FL)
Two adults and two children were transported to the hospital with smoke-inhalation injuries, according to the fire chief. “They jumped from the second (floor) to the first. And then there was a little bit of space between the ground and that balcony. There was a neighbor that was assisting the family to get their little […]
Refund Rights Run with Title (FL)
Q: My condominium association board assessed seven thousand dollars per unit right after the Hurricane Ian in 2022, which I paid. The board has now decided they do not need the funds and have voted to return them to the owners. I sold my condo unit after the refund decision was made, but before the […]
Neighborhood dispute has HOA calling foul on youth ball field in East Sarasota (FL)
The president of a Sarasota homeowners’ association is calling foul on a church’s youth baseball field where he says lights were installed without proper permits and county officials refuse to enforce regulations. After investigating the alleged violations, County officials dispute that they ignored zoning and building codes. Read the article…………………………….
Delray Beach HOA Goes To Real Court Over Sport Court (FL)
The Delray Beach gated community of Casabella is suing a Palm Beach County sport court installation company which allegedly took the community’s money and ran. Sport Surfaces of 7011 Wilson Road in West Palm Beach is the defendant. Read the article…………………………….
A few owners are holding up move to hurricane impact windows that would save condo money (FL)
Question: I am on the board of our condominium. I have been charged with reviewing our ever-increasing insurance costs. After a review, it has been determined that we need to upgrade to impact windows and doors or shutters to save a substantial amount on our annual insurance bill. Out of 20 units, roughly five owners […]